Used an off-the-shelf XP Home CD to re-install on a laptop W/OEM K

[Guest]

I reformatted and re-installed Windows on a friend's Compaq laptop using my
own personal XP Home CD (Full version) thinking I could use the product key
from the sticker on the laptop. I couldn't finish installing it, because it
wouldn't accept the product key from the sticker. So to finish the job, I
just used the product key that came with my CD, thinking I could change it
later (they need the laptop back the next morning).

Since then I haven't been able to figure out how to get the key changed (and
microsoft's people in india weren't much help.)

They found their original CD with the OS on it, but I think it will totally
wipe the whole laptop clean (although I haven't seen it yet... they still
need to bring it to me)

So I have 2 questions (so I can be ready to quicky change the key once they
bring the laptop back to me):

1) What is the easiest/fastest way to get the product key changed to the
correct one from the OEM sticker on the laptop?

2) If I am able to use their XP Home CD that came with the laptop, and it
doesn't force you to do a total wipe and re-install, then does running
Windows XP Home setup again wipe away all their profiles and re-installed
programs I just re-did for them?

Thanks in advance for your help!!

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

HP and Compaq Desktop PCs - Obtaining a Recovery CD or DVD set
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...3&lang=en&cc=us&lc=en&dlc=en&docname=bph07143

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows - Shell/User

Enjoy all the benefits of genuine Microsoft software:
http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/default.mspx

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

:

| I reformatted and re-installed Windows on a friend's Compaq laptop using my
| own personal XP Home CD (Full version) thinking I could use the product key
| from the sticker on the laptop. I couldn't finish installing it, because it
| wouldn't accept the product key from the sticker. So to finish the job, I
| just used the product key that came with my CD, thinking I could change it
| later (they need the laptop back the next morning).
|
| Since then I haven't been able to figure out how to get the key changed (and
| microsoft's people in india weren't much help.)
|
| They found their original CD with the OS on it, but I think it will totally
| wipe the whole laptop clean (although I haven't seen it yet... they still
| need to bring it to me)
|
| So I have 2 questions (so I can be ready to quicky change the key once they
| bring the laptop back to me):
|
| 1) What is the easiest/fastest way to get the product key changed to the
| correct one from the OEM sticker on the laptop?
|
| 2) If I am able to use their XP Home CD that came with the laptop, and it
| doesn't force you to do a total wipe and re-install, then does running
| Windows XP Home setup again wipe away all their profiles and re-installed
| programs I just re-did for them?
|
| Thanks in advance for your help!!

 

[Shenan Stanley]

I reformatted and re-installed Windows on a friend's Compaq laptop
using my own personal XP Home CD (Full version) thinking I could
use the product key from the sticker on the laptop. I couldn't
finish installing it, because it wouldn't accept the product key
from the sticker. So to finish the job, I just used the product
key that came with my CD, thinking I could change it later (they
need the laptop back the next morning).

Since then I haven't been able to figure out how to get the key
changed (and microsoft's people in india weren't much help.)

They found their original CD with the OS on it, but I think it will
totally wipe the whole laptop clean (although I haven't seen it
yet... they still need to bring it to me)

So I have 2 questions (so I can be ready to quicky change the key
once they bring the laptop back to me):

1) What is the easiest/fastest way to get the product key changed
to the correct one from the OEM sticker on the laptop?

2) If I am able to use their XP Home CD that came with the laptop,
and it doesn't force you to do a total wipe and re-install, then
does running Windows XP Home setup again wipe away all their
profiles and re-installed programs I just re-did for them?

Thanks in advance for your help!!

Repair install with their CD ands/or try the Microsoft product available to
change keys..
Do not know if it will work in your case, but..

The Genuine Advantage Product Key Update Tool is only valid for
users attempting to change their current non-genuine Product Key
to a genuine COA sticker or genuine Product Key - all without a reinstall!
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=50346&clcid=0x409

http://www.microsoft.com/genuine/purchase/UpdateInstructions.aspx

and/or

How to Perform a Windows XP Repair Install
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm

How to perform an in-place upgrade (reinstallation) of Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/315341

 

[Guest]

Googlr for "RockXP" - this utility will allow you to change the product key.
However, the old and new keys must be of the same type (Retail/OEM/Corporate)
or it won't be possible to activate it.

If the discs were of different types then a a repair install is the only
option. This shouldn't in principle lose data... but that's not guaranteed.

 

[Guest]

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR RESPONSES... but...

They DO have a Windows XP Home CD that came with their laptop. Actually
they've got 2: 1 "Quick Recovery" which wipes everything and 1 "Windows XP
Home SP1" CD that looks like I can use to do an OS Repair and/or Install
without wiping it.

The key question here is "SP1"... I already installed SP2 on it. Will this
cause any problems, other than the fact that I'll have to re-install SP2
after I run setup or repair?

 

[Shenan Stanley]

THANKS FOR ALL YOUR RESPONSES... but...

They DO have a Windows XP Home CD that came with their laptop.
Actually they've got 2: 1 "Quick Recovery" which wipes everything
and 1 "Windows XP Home SP1" CD that looks like I can use to do an
OS Repair and/or Install without wiping it.

The key question here is "SP1"... I already installed SP2 on it.
Will this cause any problems, other than the fact that I'll have to
re-install SP2 after I run setup or repair?

Slipstream it with AutoStreamer and create a new CD.